“What would you do for the world with $1 million?”...

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Your daily source of inspiration for creative reuse and mindful consumption.

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[Background on, & press coverage of, Unconsumption can be found here and here.]

Consumption is a word used to describe acts of acquisition – generally, the acquisition of things, in exchange for money.

Unconsumption is a word used to describe everything that happens after an act of acquisition.

Unconsumption is an invisible badge.

Unconsumption means the accomplishment of properly recycling your old cellphone, rather than the guilt of letting it sit in a drawer.

Unconsumption means the thrill of finding a new use for something that you were about to throw away.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a service like Freecycle (or Craigslist, Goodwill, or Salvation Army) to find a new home for the functioning DVD player you just replaced, rather than throwing it in the garbage.

Unconsumption means enjoying the things you own to the fullest – not just at the moment of acquisition.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a pair of sneakers until they are truly worn out – as opposed to the nagging feeling of defeat when they simply go out of style.

Unconsumption means feeling good about the simple act of turning off the lights when you leave the room.

Unconsumption is not about the rejection of things, or the demonization of things. It’s not a bunch of rules.

Unconsumption is an idea, a set of behaviors, a way of thinking about consumption itself from a new perspective.

Unconsumption is free.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Founder & Editor: Rob Walker, journalist, Savannah, GA

Editorial & Community Manager: Molly Block, marketing and business development geek, Houston, TX

Brian W. Jones, designer & writer, Göteborg, Sweden

Kashvi Kumar, Environmental Studies and Economics major at New York University

Deirdre Nelson, ever threading artist, Glasgow, Scotland

Shanna Trenholm, writer. catalyst. force of nature. San Diego, CA

* * *

Alumnus & Unconsumption logo creator: Clifton Burt, graphic designer, Portland, OR

Further information about Unconsumption can be found here.

11:53 am - Sat, Aug 18, 2012: 53 notes

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“What would you do for the world with $1 million?” asks TED, and the organization isn’t just tossing out a conversation-starter, as it will be giving that sum to someone.

I am on the record on this subject: My cameo in the documentary Objectified records me saying that if I had the dough, I’d launch a branding campaign on behalf of “Things you already own — enjoy them today!” (I may have said “a billion dollars” in the film, but a million would be enough to get things rolling.) (This is Rob Walker posting this item, by the way.)

In that spirit, check out this project: Shaz Madani / Look What You’ve Got:

‘Look what you’ve got’ takes everyday objects from around the home that have been discarded and encourages you to reconsider and appreciate them in a new light. These outcomes have been brought together and catalogued in a small format book and exhibited with the poster and accompanying object.

I guess it’s a couple of years old and doesn’t seem active at the moment, but if I ever get that marketing budget, I’m getting in touch with this person immediately!

Anyway I should also acknowledge that Unconsumption and the Uncollection are in fact attempts to promote that spirit of “enjoy what you own (instead of feeling compelled to buy something new).” Although our budget is approximately $1 million shy of $1 million, I still like the idea of “branding” things that already exist, as I wrote in On Earth recently. And we of course still welcome your participation, as described here.

Oh, and if you want to tell TED to give us that $1 million, you have until August 31!